LTTE resistance heavy - SLA

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]SLA sources in Vavuniya said that casualties in the fighting for Mankulam had risen to 27 soldiers killed and 124 wounded following clashes with the Liberation Tigers yesterday as well.

Many of the soldiers killed in the fighting south west of Mankulam were from the elite 53 division of the SLA they said.

Government troops will continue to push north and northeast from their current positions south west of Mankulam claimed a Sri Lankan military source in Colombo, while acknowledging that LTTE's resistance was heavy and that the terrain was difficult.

He said that the progress of the government troops was mainly hampered by the LTTE mortar and artillery fire.